Confession #13: I almost kept this one...

A lot of times when I am done with a piece I am really hesitant to sell it because I like it so much. That was the story on this one.


I called it Roxanne because in some strange way it made me think of the song "Roxanne" by The Police.


It's made of faceted Onyx, round pyrite (some of my favorite beads these days) and silver hill tribe pendant from Thailand.


It's a simple straight forward piece that I see going great with a tee shirt and jeans. That's what I would have worn it with if I kept it....

Here is a close up of the pendant.

To buy Roxanne click here: http://www.thatswhatiwant.us/Roxanne

It was priced at $46, but has been marked down to $30, there is only one available.

Confession #11: I love working from home, but not always...

I do like it most of the time. Most of the time I am in my pajamas well into the day (like right now). But there are times when I don't get done what I want to and I feel bad. I really loved reading Elena Adams' blog on working from home: http://www.elena-adams.com/. If you go to the April 20, 27 and May 3rd archives she writes a really helpful three part piece on how to work from home without going crazy. Some excellent tips as well as some clarification as to what it is like to work at home.

In honor of Elena's blog, I like to make my list of the things I love about making jewelry from home and the things that are, lets say, less good about working from home.


Good:
1. Work whenever I want to, if I want to make it a 2 hour day or a 14 hour day, it's all up to me.

Less Good:
1. When it needs to be a 14 hour day and I feel like making it a 2 hour day it's really hard to motivate myself.

Bright Side:
1. When I'm on a roll I can work 14 hours and it doesn't feel like 14 hours at all. This is more the rule than the exception and because of that I know that I am doing the right work.


Great:
2. I have loved making jewelry since I was 18 an spend some days as "design days" where all I do all day is make one piece after the other and watch movies or listen to music. This is easily the very BEST part of what I do.

Less Great:
2. Once I have made all of these pieces I have to price them (time consuming), name them (running out of clever things to call them), create price tags for them (really time consuming) and if they are going on my website (as opposed to one of my stores) I have to scan them, format the pictures, and upload all of the information on the website. Some of this is fun, but it is all time consuming.

Bright side:
2. I can control my prices and what I call the pieces. I have a lot of personal jokes and homages in the names of my pieces. Some are named after relatives, some are based on the movie I was watching while I made it and some are just what the piece makes me think about. As for the prices, if I feel that one came out to high, I totally have the power to lower it. And I often do. I am told that I don't price my stuff high enough, that may be true, but I like it to be available to as many people as possible.


Good:
3. I am also a bookkeeper, so I do my own books and don't have to pay or wait for someone else to take care of it.

Less Good:
3. It is always easier to motivate yourself to get someone else's books done, harder when they are your own.

Bright Side:
3. Last minute entries before tax time are a snap.


Good:
4. I get to buy my own materials which is soooooooooooooooo much fun! I love shopping for beads, etc. Whether it's online or at a gem show I am IN LOVE with gemstones (is that the right word? It implies rubies and sapphires and although I love rubies and sapphires, I mean all natural stones like different kinds of jasper, agate, quartz, etc.)

Less Good:
4. I spend too much. It is so much easier to buy stones than it is to sell necklaces.

Bright Side:
4. I have plenty of materials to inspire me whenever I want to work.

Good:
5. All of the money I make is mine to allocate as I see fit.

Less Good:
5. I can't always live on how much money I allocate to me as payment for my work.

Bright Side:
5. I have other work that does so that I can keep making jewelry for as long as I want, and I will.

Confession #10: I like Silpada

I never thought I'd say this but I am considering representing someone else's jewelry.  I was recently introduced to Silpada by a friend who is a rep.  She was just giving me ideas on how to increase my business with home parties, but the moment I saw the jewelry I was in love.  Much of it is the same concept that I use, all natural stones and pearls with silver accents.  They use some other beads too, but they really make it work.  I really didn't expect to like it as much as I do.  A lot of the pieces are ones that I either wish I had made, could make or don't have the skills or resources to make.  

My friend's site is mysilpada.com/sara.lilly.  Check it out, although it looks like I will have my own site soon!  I really didn't anticipate doing something like this, but I do feel that I have a unique background for going into this company.  I still intend to keep making my "Creations by Molly", we all know that I couldn't stop if I wanted to!  Please check out the Silpada site, let me know what you think.  And if you'd like to find out how to get some of that lovely Bling for free, drop me an e-mail.

Confession #6: I take my work apart

I have found that the willingness to take something apart that has proved to not sell well is crucial to taking chances with design. I suggest to all jewelry designers to know your style, but to take risks on occasion. Try a new method, use new materials, change up color schemes, etc. If nothing else you may learn what doesn't work. If you always make symmetrical pieces, try an a-symmetrical one for a change. If you never mix shades of green, try one that is nothing but different shades of green. If you only make chokers, try a longer piece. If you only work with pendants, that's right, try one without a pendant. If you make single strand pieces... you get the picture.

This is another good reason to check out other people's work. They can give you an idea of how to step outside your own box. Being inspired by other designers is not the same as copying. Most of us would be flattered.

And when or if this change up goes wrong, take it apart and put the pieces back in your stock. Or if you were the only one who liked it, keep it, maybe it was just ahead of it's time. Who knows, maybe you are wearing a year from now and someone asks you where you got that lovely piece of jewelry, "oh, I made it," you'll say.

Confession #5: I'm jealous...

I find that I get jealous of other designers' work when it's something that I wish that I made. I get really moved by a great piece or even a designer's unique style. I find looking at the work of other designers inspires me to try new things, new techniques, new color combinations and new materials. I like being challenged this way. So if I may offer a tip to aspiring designers out there it would be this, check out the work of other designers, it will inspire you, give you ideas and show what good finished product looks like. There are some really creative people out there, not to mention ones that have rare talents.

Today's blog is dedicated to 5 of my favorite jewelry designers work:

1. Sally Jean at www.sallyjean.com
What style this lady has! She makes the most unique yet simple pendants. She works with glass, makes tiny collages, and uses copper foil tape and a soldering iron to achieve a vintage look. Please check her out and really look around her site. It's whimsical work and she has a sense of humor.

2. J-me by Jaime at www.jmebyjaime.com
I have been following her jewelry for years. This gal's work inspires me often. She works in much the same materials as I do, natural stones, pearls and silver. She makes bracelets (I tend not to) and she's very creative with color. Her pricing is very good and I recommend checking out her gallery of sold items just for fun.

3. Dorana Desgin at Etsy. This gal does some neat work. She makes flowers out of beads, I know it sounds less than amazing, but the look she achieves is really stylish. It's playful and fun. I like her work and she has many excellent photos of each piece.

4. Blend Creations at www.blendcreations.com. This is a new one for me, but once I saw this work I was immediately intrigued. These metal pendants all have a similar thematic style, but are still very unique. The could be worn with jeans and a tee on a simple silver chain or with anything you would wear to a corporate office. I have no idea how they are made, but I wish I did.

5. Shy Siren at www.shysiren.com. Another new favorite of mine. Really classy vintage look. All pieces are hand made and they have a truly unique and beautiful look. I also love the way they did the website. Both the website and the jewelry are designed by two women, former architects and very talented! I highly recommend and am very jealous of these two ladies' work.

Please check out any or all of these designers' work, you will be inspired.